Latin & Tango
“Tango must always be interpreted in terms of human emotions. It has a human voice. That is why we must bring forth the sound that accurately expresses those emotions.” — Osvaldo Pugliese
“Music has the power to bring forth the resonant harmony of the heart, transcending differences in appearance, differences in language, differences in culture, or differences in civilization.” – Daisaku Ikeda
Translated from Japanese, Ikeda Daisaku zenshu (The Complete Works of Daisaku Ikeda), vol. 108, pp. 230–31, (1997).
Latin music, found in Central and South America, is a series of musical styles and genres that typically mixes influences from Spanish, African and indigenous sources. A variety of rich musical cultures and different flavors of music unique to each individual Latin American country, however, has been developed during a span of a few hundred years, each with its own ethnic, historical and socio-cultural background.
Among the musical styles of Argentina, the tango is perhaps the most popular, becoming famous all around the world. The Min-On Tango Series, which launched in 1970 with a concert by the internationally acclaimed Orquestra Jose Basso, has been credited with spearheading a tango boom in Japan. The series has featured nationwide Japan tours by leading tango artists, such as the Orquesta Osvaldo Pugliese and the Orquesta Mariano Mores, on an annual basis.
The most recent tour was by the Orquesta Color Tango, conducted by the acclaimed bandoneon player Robert Alvarez, in 2011 as the forty-second installment of the Tango series. To date, this series has comprised more than 2,300 performances throughout Japan, bringing the wonder of tango music to more than 3.5 million audience members. Min-On has also brought musicians and artists in other genres of Latin music, such as Brazilian Popular Music and Latin Folk Music, from many different Latin American countries, including performances by Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil of Brazil, Los Indios of Paraguay, Los Laikas of Bolivia, among many others.
Osvaldo Pugliese from Argentina in 1979
Fabio Hager Sexteto in 2018
Gloria and Eduardo Tango Ensemble in 1992
Orquesta Julian Plaza in 1996
Orquesta Mariano Mores in 1992
Min-On Tango Series:
1970 Orchesta Jose Basso
1985
1971 Orchesta Hector Varela
1972 Florindo Sassone y Su Orquesta Tipica
1973 Francini Pontier y Su Orquesta Tipica
1974 Carlos Garcia Tango All Stars
1980
1975 Orquesta Fulvio Salamanca
1976 Orquesta Leopoldo Federico
1977 Franicini & Symphonic Tango Orchestra
1978 Orquesta Jose Livertella
1979 Orquestra Osvaldo Pugliese
1989
1981 Gran Orquesta Salgan De Lio
1982 Orquesta Carlos Lazzari
1983 Orquesta Orlando Tripoi
1995
1984 Orquestra Mariano Mores
1988
1992
1986 Orquesta Osvaldo Berlingieri
1987 Enrique Dumas y Orquesta Dragone
1990 Orquesta Juan D’Arienzo
1993
1991 Orquesta del Tango de Néstor Marconi
1991 Orquesta del Tango de Néstor Marconi
1992 Gloria and Eduardo Tango Ensemble
1994
2004
1996 Orquesta Julian Plaza
1997 Orquestra Osvaldo Piro
1998 Orquesta Mauricio Marcelli
1999 Orquesta Carlos Buono
2000 Orquesta Osvaldo Requena
2001 Raul Lavie & Sexteto Sur
2002 Orquesta El Arranque
2005
2003 Orquesta Carlos Galván
2006 Fabio Hager & Tango del Sur
2012
2018
2007 Orquesta Erica di Salvo
2008 Orquesta Fernando Marzán
2009 Osvaldo Requena and Fernando Suarez Paz
2010 Orquesta Victor Lavallen
2011 Color Tango
2013 Orquesta Nicolás Ledesma
2014 Grecos Tango Orquesta
2015 Orchestra La Juan D’Arienzo
2016 Sexteto Meridional Orchestra
2017 Horacio Romo Sexteto
Los Laikas from Bolivia in 1984
Exodus Steel Orchestra Brings the Caribbean to Japan in 2014
Alfonso Bautista Marimba Ensemble from Guatemala in 2008
Sun Brass from Panama in 2008
Latin Folk: among many others
1976 Los Indios from Republic of Paraguay
1976 Atahualpa Yupanqui from Argentina
1978 Antonio Pantaja from Argentina
1980
1981 Christina and Hugo from Argentina
1981 Ramon Veloz and Grupo “Campo Alegre” from Cuba
1981 Condorkanki from Argentina
1992
1994
1983 Cristina y Hugo from Argentina
1984 Los Laikas from Argentina
1996
2001
1985 Savia Andina & Zulma Yugar from Bolivia
1986 Jaime Torres from Argentina
1988 Sierra Maestra from Cuba
1989 Papi Basaldua and Grupo Cantares from Paraguay
1991 Costa Caribe from Venezuela
1994 Coral Y Esmeralda from Republic of Ecuador
1995 Viva! Mexico ’95 concert *performance also in 2009 and 2015
1997 Cico Cesar from Brazil
1997 Fiesta Mexicana ‘97
1998 Son Damas from Cuba
2000 Trio Los Panchos from Mexico
2001 Los Mecateros from Mexico
2003 Martín Portillo y Americanta from Paraguay
2003 Juanjo Dominguez from Argentina
2004
2005
2005 Los Mecateros from Mexico & Cheo Hurtado Ensemble from Venezuela
2008 Alfonso Bautista Marimba Ensemble from Guatemala and Sun Brass from Panama
2008 Guillermo Anderson & Ceibana from Honduras and Editus from Costa Rica
2009 Mini All Stars form Haiti
2010 Anata Bolivia
2011
2013
2015
2017
2011 Jamaica Rocks
2011 Mac Salvador, El Colectivo Palenke, and Juan Medrano “Cotito” from Peru
2005 Exodus Steel Band Orchestra from Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
2014
2013 Cesar Lopez & Havana Ensemble from Cuba
2016 GUACO from Venezuela
2017 Nicaraguan diva Katia Cardenal
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